(no subject)

[wolfie-18.livejournal.com]

Why are greetings and generic wishes in the genetive case? Ex: Счастливого пути, спокойной ночи, (forgot the word) аппетита, и т.д.

Comments

[yers.livejournal.com]

because of an implied "желаю тебе" - "I wish you" (спокойной ночи, приятного аппетита, etc.), which takes the genitive.

[welgar.livejournal.com]

You meant "приятного аппетита" (lit. "pleasant appetite").

[yers.livejournal.com]

Similarly, most expressions of congratulation follow the pattern с + instrumental ("с новым годом" - "happy new year", "с днём рождения" - "happy birthday", down to idiomatic stuff like "с обновкой" - "congratulations on your new clothes"), because of an omitted "поздравляю". The verb "to congratulate" uses this syntax, "поздравлять (кого) с (чем)).

[kart.livejournal.com]

I think the phrase is "приятного аппетита"... and yers has a fantastic explanation for why those phrases are genitive. Makes sense to me :)

The same general rule seems to apply to plurals too -- e.g. "приятных снов"